Ships of the American Revolutionary NavyMark Lardas explores the origins of American warships, primarily light and medium frigates, built for the Continental Navy during the years 1776–1783. This was the first navy of the United States and much of the fleet was comprised of ships that had been modified from existing vessels, converted into warships to provide a crucial service during the American Revolutionary War. Despite having no real funding, this unique fleet had a surprising amount of success against the might of the Royal Navy, and this title discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each design, and the differences between European and American warships of the time. With a close look at how these ships performed in key battles, as well as the exploits of John Paul Jones – the founding father of the United States Navy – this is a complete, illustrated overview of the ships' service and development until France's entry into the war and the subsequent decline in importance of the Continental Navy. |
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12lb long guns 1776 Commissioned 1777 Dimensions 17ft Displacement 18lb guns 28 guns 32 guns 32-gun frigate 6in Displacement 6lb long Alfred Alliance American Revolution battle Bonhomme Richard Boston Bourbon breadth British warships broadside captain Charleston Colonies command Confederacy construction Continental Congress Continental frigates Continental Navy Continental Navy ships convoy crew cruise Delaware depth of hold draft Duc de Duras East Indiaman Effingham escorted Esek Hopkins European Federal Navy Flag flotilla French Navy frigate design frigates built full gun decks Grand Union Flag Hackett yard Hancock HMS Confederate HMS Drake HMS Yarmouth hull Iris John Paul Jones Joshua Humphreys Laid Landais lower deck main battery merchant vessels merchantmen naval Navy’s Never Dimensions NH&HC November officers Philadelphia Portsmouth prevent capture privateers prizes Providence Raleigh Randolph Ranger Royal Navy Saratoga scantlings Serapis ship-of-the-line ship-rigged shipbuilding ships built sloop sloops-of-war South Carolina Navy squadron Trumbull two-deckers United upper deck Warren Washington